Youth-Violence in the public and scientific discussion
The question of the genesis of juvenile violence has increasingly come into the focus of public and scientific discussion over the last years and the allegedly new phenomenon of juvenile violence received special attention. Xenophobic and right-wing extremist violence and violence in a school context were identified as new phenomena of violence which was committed more and more by childern, adolescents and young adults. Undeniably, since the nineteen seventies there has been a growing fringe group among adolescents (cf. Eisner 1998) which must by no means be marginalized as far as the degree and extent of their acts of violence are concerned.

Private vs. state violence
Transgressing a basic norm characteristic of modern societies – i.e. refraining from private violence in favour of its being monopolized by the state – indicates a civilization deficit of the social groups in question which is to be taken seriously. Questions can be asked concerning the characteristics of social groups which violate this basic norm of modern and civilized societies and the conditions under which such groups form. Is there a relationship between these conditions and social change at large, characterized by increasing individualization, pluralization and globalization?

Interdisciplinary effort
In their complexity these questions defy the capacities of one scientific discipline. Within the framework of this project they are therefore approached by different disciplines and investigated in a joint interdisciplinary effort. The participating researchers of the University of Basel hope by this project to close - at least in part - gaps of knowledge concerning these important research questions. At the same time another important aim of this project consists in advancing interdisciplinary research on a national and international level.